Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-10-22
Allan Qlatelnail
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.
AUTHOR OF KING soLoMoE's MSEs," SHE"
'JEss," THE wIrcH's HEAD" Ere.

wv hat neWSf" cried the guard And VINO
art thou that ridest so madlya and who is
that whose tongue Tolls out"-and it actually
did-"and who runs by thee like dog by a
chariot"
at is the Lord Macumazahn, and with him
is his dog, his black dog. Openl openl /
bring tidings."
The great gates ran back on their rollers,
and the drawbridge fell with rafting crash,
and we dashed on through the one and over
the other.
"What news, my lordi what newsp cried
the guard.
'Incubu rolls Sorais back, as the WHY'D
cloud" / answered, and was gone.
One more effort, gallant horse, and yet
more gallant man!
&c. fall not now, Daylight; and hold thy
life in thee for fifteen short minutes more, old
Zulu war dog, and we shall both live forever
in the annals of the land
On, Gathering through the sleeping streets.
We are passing the Flower Temple now-one
mile more, only one little mile-hold on, keep
your life in We, see the houses run past of
themselves. Up, good horse, up, there-but
fifty yards now. Ali you see your stables,
and stagger on gallantly.
"Thank God, the palace at lastl" and see,
the first arrows of the dawn are striking on
the temples golden dome. But shall get in
here, or is the deed done and the way barredl
Once more / give the password and shout
"Open! open!"
No answer, and my heart grows very faint.
Again I call, and this time single voice re-
plies, and to my joy recognize it as belong
ing to Kara, fellow officer of Nyleptha's
guards, man l know to be as honest as the
light-indeed, the same whom Nyleptha had
sent to arrest Sorais on the day she fled to the
temple.
ais it thou, Kara9" cry; al am Macuma-
zahn. Bid the guard let down the bridge and
throw wide the gate. Quick, quicki'
Then followed space that seemed to me
endless; but at length the bridge fell and one
half of the gate opened, and we got into the
courtyard, where at last poor Daylight fell
down beneath me, as I thought, dead. 1
struggled free, and leaning against post
looked around. Except Kara, there was no
body to be seen, and his look was Wild and
his garments were all torn. He had opened
the gate and let down the bridge alone. and
was now getting them up and shut again las,
owing to a very ingenious arrangement of
cranks and levers, one man could easily do,
and indeed generally did do).
"Where are the guard % I gasped, fearing
his answer as l never feared anything before.
II know not, he answered; "two hours ago,
as I slept, was I seized and bound by the
watch under me, and but now, this very mo-
ment, have freed myself with my teeth 1
fear, l greatly fear, that we are betrayed"
His words gave me fresh energy. Catching
him by the arm, staggered, followed by
Umslopogaas, who reeled after us like a
drunken man, through the courtyards, up the
great hall, which was silent as the grave, to-
wards the queens sleeping place
We reached the first anteroom-no guards;
the second, still no guards. Oh, surely the
thing was done we were too late after all,
too late! The silence and solitude of those
great chambers was dreadful and weighed
me down like an evil dream. On, right into
Nyleptha's chamber we rushed and staggered,
sick at heart, fearing the very worst we saw
there was a light in it, aye, and a figure
bearing the light Oh, thank God, it is the
White Queen herself, the queen unframed
There she stands in her night gear, reused by
the clatter of our coming from her bed, the
neaviness of sleep yet in her eyes and red
blush of fear and shame mantling her lovely
breast and cheek
"Who is it," she cries. "What means this?
thou so wildly? Thou contest as one bearing
evil tidings-and my lord-oh, tell me not
my lord is dead-not deadl" she walled,
wringing her white hands.
II left Incubu wounded, put leading the
advance against Sorais last night at sun
down; therefore let thy heart have rest.
Sorais is beaten back all along her lines and
thy arms prevail"
lnn Ncl,n iali f,.itt %
that he would win; and they called him an
outlander and shook their wise heads when
gave him the commando Last night at sun
down, sayest thou, and it is not yet dawn?
Surely
"Thrcw cloak around thee, Nyleptha," l
broke in, "and give us wine to drink; ay, and
call thy maidens quick if thou wouldst save
thyself alive Nay, stay not"
Thus adJured, she ran and called through
the curtains towards some room beyond, and
then hastily put on her sandals and thick
cloak, by which time dozen or SO Of half
dressed women were pouring into the room.
"Follow us and be SILENT" said to them as
they gazed with wondering eyes, clinging
one to another. So we went into the first
anteroom.
"Now,n said, "give US wine to drink and
food, if ye have it, for we are near to DEATH"
The room was used as a mess room for off
GERS of the guards, and from cupboard some
fagons of wine and some cold flesh were
brought forth, and Umslopogaas and drank
and felt life flow back into our veins as tho
good red wine went down.
"HG-k 10 me, Nyleptha," said, as put
Town the empty tankara. Hast thou here
among these thy waiting ladies any two OF
discretions"
eAy," she said. surely
"Then bid them go out by the side entrance
10 any citizens whom thou canst bethink thee
of as men loyal to thee. and pray them come
armed with all honest folk they can gather.
10 rescue thee from death. Nay. question
not do as L say, and quickly Kara here VIII
let out the maids
She turned, and selecting two of the crowd
of damsels, repeated the words had uttered
giving them besides a list of the names OF